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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 116 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  3. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  10. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. That was a fun ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. pit — a hole
  3. pit — a fruit stone
  4. saw — the tool
  5. pit — in a race
  6. root — of a plant
  7. root — of a word
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. game — a kind of play
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. stick — to attach or keep to
  17. rock — music
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. game — wild animals
  22. saw — the tool
  23. rock — a stone
  24. game — a match

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com